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A review by miasativa13
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the experience of reading this book because of the expressiveness, eloquence, and insightfulness of the prose. The writing was truly engaging and was pleasurable to read. The author also did a great job of fleshing out the characters, painting them vividly for the reader so that, despite how many there are, it’s easy to imagine each one distinct from the other.
The novel steps into “trauma porn” territory, however, somewhere just past the middle of the book; this is also the point where passages about the protagonist’s misery and self-hatred become rather repetitive. It is still a rather beautifully written book, but the plot points are what begin to ruin it gradually so that a 5-star book is steadily whittled down to 3.75 (at least, in my opinion).
I myself did not cry reading this book, but I know dozens of others have—and I believe it’s a sign of a skilled writer that they have been able to weave something so emotionally provocative. I disagree with others who say that this book should not have been written at all because its main purpose is to “manipulate” its readers—I believe the author’s intention to emotionally “destroy” readers from the get-go is a legitimate artistic experiment that explores the ways words and stories can be formed to resonate strongly with their audience. If you are someone who appreciates the skill and technique involved in writing literary fiction, then you could find this an interesting, enjoyable book to read.
Reading this book personally reminded me of my experience reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and The World According to Garp by John Irving. If you enjoyed these 2 books, you may just enjoy A Little Life.
The novel steps into “trauma porn” territory, however, somewhere just past the middle of the book; this is also the point where passages about the protagonist’s misery and self-hatred become rather repetitive. It is still a rather beautifully written book, but the plot points are what begin to ruin it gradually so that a 5-star book is steadily whittled down to 3.75 (at least, in my opinion).
I myself did not cry reading this book, but I know dozens of others have—and I believe it’s a sign of a skilled writer that they have been able to weave something so emotionally provocative. I disagree with others who say that this book should not have been written at all because its main purpose is to “manipulate” its readers—I believe the author’s intention to emotionally “destroy” readers from the get-go is a legitimate artistic experiment that explores the ways words and stories can be formed to resonate strongly with their audience. If you are someone who appreciates the skill and technique involved in writing literary fiction, then you could find this an interesting, enjoyable book to read.
Reading this book personally reminded me of my experience reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and The World According to Garp by John Irving. If you enjoyed these 2 books, you may just enjoy A Little Life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence